Fungus Detection

NIR spectroscopy can be used to detect the presence of fungi which can cause diseases. One common form of fungal disease for fruits and vegetables is Botrytis cinerea or gray mold. This fungus will cause fruits and vegetables to rot and essentially reduce their overall quality. Measurement of spectral reflectance and absorbance of fungi will allow early identification of rotting produce. Fungi leave spectral signatures which can be detected using infrared spectroscopy. Two regions of interest are Near IR (760-1000 nm) and SWIR (1010-1775 nm). A handheld NIR spectrometer can detect the spectral signatures of gray mold. The technique can also be used in the identification of plant species and estimation of plant yield.